I have strep?!?!? Why me?!?!?

So, for about two weeks now I have had a sore/burning throat. I thought it was heartburn or acid reflux so I took some tums and tried to forget about it. The pain was constant and eventually burned when I drank anything so I finally went to the doctor. My boyfriend says u might have strep I'm thinking I don't because I have no fever no chills no coughing and no white spots, the doc agreed with me but on my insisting (to humor my bf) she swabbed my throat. Rapid test came back negative but they also took a culture which they always do for more intense testing just in case the strep is mild. So I go on about my life and get a call yesterday saying I have a mild case of it and they are calling in some meds for me. What the?!?! How in the world did I get this?? At one point in time a girl at work had it but that was a month prior to this and tried my best to steer clear. I have never had this and just wanted some input on how to speed up recovery. Thanks!

8 Replies

That really sucks! I've never had strep but I actually had a client last week that did. Poor girl couldn't even talk! Unfortunately, all you can really do is take the antibiotics and try to rest as much as possible. I also recommend popsicles/slurpees or anything else cold as this will decrease inflammation and pain.

Advil will also be helpful for pain, however, swallowing a pill will likely be very painful! If you're desperate, you can still buy children's Advil/Tylenol. I think the typical children's Advil is 100mg/5mL so if you take 20 mL it would be the equivalency of an extra strength Advil or 400mg. The most ibuprofen/Advil that is safe for an adult is 3200mg/day so just keep that in mind. But first, talk to your pharmacist if you have any other health conditions or are on any other medications.

Other than that - rest, rest, and rest! Also take your antibiotics as directed and finish the whole bottle. Otherwise, you may not completely kill off your infection and also help create antibiotic resistant bugs. Hope you feel better!

Strep is spread through droplets of saliva or nasal secretions. So all it takes is someone coughing or sneezing and not washing their hands for you to pick it up! Obviously there's lots of things we touch throughout the day - doorknobs, pens, coffee cups at Tim's, what have you. Somewhere down the road, someone passed you a lovely present. It likely was not the girl you work with, it just happened to be someone else who also had the infection and could've been anyone.

Some liquid Tylenol with codeine in it. You can ask for it at your drug
store. You won't need much, if you suck on some ice before you take it
it won't hurt as bad when you take it. It will remove the pain much
better then any thing else will and probably for longer.

I had strep throat once and its so painful I feel for you rest and get better.Make sure and finish all your antibiotics even if your feeling better.Drink LOTS of water.It is contagious so you were bound to have picked it up anywhere.If your working call in sick so you don't spread it around.

I'm on my 3rd day of meds and I'm starting to feel better. I was thinking... For almost two weeks I was passing it back to myself, I didn't know I had it and I kept using the same toothbrush. Perfect way to ensure me not getting better. I had none of the classic symptoms except for the unbelievably painful sore throat. I would sit and cry cuz it hurt so bad and not once did I think I had strep because I had no other symptoms. Thanks everyone!!!

I feel so sorry for you, strep is painful, just make sure when using cups and glasses and cutlery wash them really good, because strep can come back, and if you are living with others they to can get it to . Dishwasher comes in handy. Hope you feel better!